Rick Santorum Tells Pope Francis To Keep His Mouth Shut When It Comes To Science

During an appearance on Philadelphia’s Talk Radio 1210 WPHT with Dom Giordano, the former senator and member of the current crowded Republican presidential primary field stated that he disagreed with Pope Francis’ upcoming encyclical on climate change, and that the Catholic Church should “leave science to the scientists.” I’m not joking, Rick Santorum actually said that – and I’m sure the blatant hypocrisy of his statement is completely lost on him, as well as the 2% of Republican voters who support him.

What’s also interesting is that the Catholic Church has decided to interfere in matters of science quite a few times over their nearly 2,000 year history, but you’re not going to see Rick Santorum complain about the time the Vatican had Galileo tried and convicted for heresy simply for supporting the theory that the Earth orbited the Sun, rather than the other way around.

Via CBS Philly:

“The perception that the media would like to give of Pope Francis and the reality are two different things…I’m a huge fan of his, and his focus on making sure that we have a healthier society…I support completely the Pope’s call for us to do more to create opportunities for people to be able to rise in society and care for the poor. That’s our obligation as a society.”

Seeing that it is expected by many that Pope Francis will release an encyclical on climate change, Santorum says he disagrees with what he expects to hear in it.

“The Church has gotten it wrong a few times on science, and I think we’re probably better off leaving science to the scientists and focus on what we’re really good on, which is theology and morality. When we get involved with political and controversial scientific theories, then I think the church is probably not as forceful and credible.”

According to Santorum, this is not the first time that he has told religious leaders to shy away from matters of science and focus more on the church’s principles. (Source)

Whether Rick Santorum (along with the rest of the 2016 Republican candidates) wants to admit it or not, climate change is real and human activity is responsible for accelerating it. He also claims to be a supporter of Pope Francis and his message, but it seems that the only things that the Church teaches that Rick Santorum cares about are abortion, contraception and of course, that gay people are icky and going to Hell. The other things that Catholic doctrine talks about like taking care of the poor, the elderly and the sick? Nah, you can count Rick Santorum out on those since he subscribes to the teachings of the Republican Gospels when it comes to those issues.

Republicans, including Rick Santorum, have repeatedly ignored the fact that 97% of climate scientists agree that climate change during the last 100 years is due to human activity, and Rick Santorum himself has called climate change a “hoax” and “bogus.” Despite the many faults of the Catholic Church, it’s a good thing that Pope Francis is addressing climate change, and conservative Catholic politicians here in the United States are furious with him because of that.

Maybe Rick Santorum should take his own advice, shut his mouth, and actually listen to scientists for once.